Chinese leader calls for "clean" Spring Festival

• A senior leader on Friday called for a "clean, upright and merry" Spring Festival.

• The holiday, which begins on Feb. 10, falls amid a government campaign to reduce extravagance.

• CPC and government officials should uphold prudence and give up extravagance, said Liu Yunshan.

BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior leader on Friday called for a "clean, upright and merry" Spring Festival, also known as China's biggest and most important holiday.

The holiday, which begins on Feb. 10, falls amid a government campaign to reduce extravagance among Communist Party of China (CPC) and government officials.

CPC and government officials should strictly follow the guidelines issued by the CPC Central Committee, uphold prudence and give up extravagance during the holiday, said Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee.

The implementation of eight bureaucracy- and formalism-fighting guidelines introduced at a Dec. 4 meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee is now in effect, he said.

However, the effects of the guidelines will be temporary if efforts do not last, he said.

A long-term mechanism and persistent efforts are needed to improve the working style of CPC and government officials and make the changes visible to the public, Liu said.

Improving working styles is part of efforts to implement the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress, he said.

Eight inspection teams sent by the general office of the CPC Central Committee have visited 220 villages and communities in 92 counties in 16 provincial-level regions to solicit opinions from the public regarding the changes.

The response has been good, Liu said, adding that the people are satisfied with the policies and measures and are confident in the CPC and country's future.

Liu urged officials to carefully study a report delivered by President Hu Jintao at the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as the newly-amended CPC Constitution and recent speeches by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The disciplinary arm of the Communist Party of China (CPC) issued a communique on Wednesday, vowing severe penalties for lavish banquets and tours fueled by public funds amid continued pressure against corruption.

CPC members should "be frugal and shun extravagance and waste," said a communique released after the plenary meeting of the CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) held from Monday to Tuesday. Full story

BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The winds of a frugality campaign that has swept across China in recent weeks have also blown through wealthy state-owned enterprises (SOEs), making them call off once-gaudy annual parties.

SOEs' celebrations used to mean banquets in starred hotels with big shows and huge prizes in the lucky draw. However, this year, a slew of such firms rescinded or scaled down their annual dinners after the Communist Party of China Central Committee promulgated a package of rules calling for official frugality. Full story

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- With a frugality storm sweeping China, people are wondering if the two annual political sessions in March, with criticism over the huge cost of security and accommodation, will offer a perfect test ground to show the top leadership means it. Full story